WEST OSO ISD RECEIVES GRADE OF “A” FROM TEA
A year of preparation culminated the week of April 14-17, 2003, when the Texas Education Agency conducted a District Effectiveness and Compliance (DEC) Audit in West Oso ISD. The purposes of the DEC on-site visit are to evaluate the district's efforts to improve the student performance in special programs and to determine the extent to which the district is in compliance with state and federal requirements for special programs. The DEC team also focused on the state mandated decision-making and planning processes as they relate to the quality of services provided for all students including those in the special programs.

To prepare for the DEC visit, central administration, principals, and program teachers collected documentation of more than 450 special programs’ compliance indicators and 250 special education compliance indicators. Also, the central administration completed a self-evaluation that was submitted in electronic and hard copy formats, along with all of the district and campus plans, to TEA for review prior to the visit.

The activities during the visit included: (1) a District entry meeting with  administrators, (2) superintendent and board member interviews, (3) roundtable discussions with parents and members of the District Educational Improvement Council,  (4) reviews of the indicator documentation, (5) classroom visits,  (6) teacher interviews, (7) classroom observations, (8) reviews of teacher lesson plans,  and (9) reviews of student products. Upon completion of the activities, the DEC team conducted the District Exit Conference where the team's findings were shared with West Oso administrators and principals.

On Thursday morning, the DEC team met with the administration to debrief their findings. Only three indicators were not in compliance in Special Programs and six in Special Education.  The DEC team leaders indicated that WOISD was in 100% compliance in the following programs: Gifted and Talented (GT) Education, Migrant Education, Dyslexia, Title I (School Improvement), Teacher and Principal Training and Recruiting, Innovative Programs, and Pre-Kindergarten.

Bilingual Education/ESL Programs were in compliance with all but two indicators. These two indicators will require corrective action.  Optional Extended Year was in compliance except for one indicator.

The audit also reviewed policies and procedures for district and campus planning and decision-making and found the district and campus plans and the site-based committee procedures in total compliance.

In addition to auditing the various programs for compliance with state and federal regulations, the DEC team may award Quality Points for evidence that the district's programs are of exceptional quality. Quality Points are awarded based on campus visits, classroom observations, teacher interviews, student interviews, and student performance.  WOISD received almost all of the possible Quality Points for the special programs.  The Bilingual/ESL program received 12 of 14 possible Quality Points. The Career and Technology Education (CATE), Dyslexia, Title I, Migrant, Teacher and Principal Training and Recruiting, Innovative, PreKindergarten, and Special Education programs received 100% of their Quality Points. The GT program received 8 of 13 Quality Points.  Overall, WOISD received 66 of the 76 total Quality Points that could possibly be awarded by the DEC team.

The DEC team praised the district for their performance. One DEC member commented that the entire team was impressed by the positive climate in the schools and how important the attitudes of staff and students are in promoting a positive learning environment.  Eva Barrett, the DEC Chairperson complimented WOISD for the organization, preparation, and hospitality that WOISD showed the DEC team which increased the team's efficiency in audit completion.  The team praised the parent roundtable and the positive comments that were voiced. The team was impressed with the principal’s knowledge of special programs and the fact that they did not have to use notes.  Ms. Barrett in closing stated, “WOISD is to be commended for what has been accomplished.  The full report will be available in 45 days.

Mrs. Alma Ramirez, WOISD Board President, stated, “This is a red letter day, and demonstrates that our school district is about going beyond standards and benchmarks, and the teamwork that it takes to accomplish a job well done”.